How To Use Permethrin (Elimite)

Prescription permethrin for scabies treatment comes in the form of a cream for application to the skin. Over-the-counter permethrin for lice treatment comes in the form of a lotion, rinse, or shampoo for application to the scalp and hair. 

Read the prescription label or package label carefully. Use permethrin exactly as directed. Do not change the amount of permethrin used or the application frequency without talking to your doctor or pharmacist. 

Permethrin is for external use only. Avoid getting the medicine in your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or vagina. Do not use it on your eyelashes or eyebrows. If permethrin gets in your eyes, wash them thoroughly with water. If eye irritation persists, seek medical care immediately.

Here are the steps to use permethrin cream:

• Apply a thin layer of cream and massage it well into your skin from the neck down all the way to your toes. Do not forget to apply the medicine in folds of skin, such as between the fingers and toes and on your waist and buttocks.
• Scabies rarely infest the scalp in adults. However, in addition to the body, permethrin cream should also be applied to the forehead, hairline, temples, and neck in pediatric patients and geriatric patients.
• One 30-gram tube of permethrin cream should cover your entire body.
• Leave the cream in place for 8-14 hours. Wash off the cream by bathing or showering.
• Itching may continue for up to 4 weeks after permethrin treatment. This does not indicate treatment failure. Excessive topical use of permethrin can be harmful. However, if you have severe scabies and there are demonstrable living mites 2 weeks after the initial treatment, your doctor may prescribe a second permethrin application. 

Here are the steps to use permethrin rinse, shampoo, or lotion:

• Wash your hair with shampoo, rinse it, and towel dry it, leaving your hair damp. 
• Do not use conditioner or shampoo that contains conditioner as this can make the treatment less effective.
• You will need to ask someone to help you apply permethrin lotion to your scalp and hair. 
• Cover your eyes and face with a towel or washcloth. 
• Shake the bottle of permethrin (Nix) well and apply the medicine to your hair and scalp. Don’t forget the areas at the back of your neck and behind your ears.
• Leave permethrin lotion in place for 10 minutes after you finish applying it, but no longer. Use a timer to keep track of the time. 
• Rinse the medicine out in a sink. Do not shower or bathe (to prevent getting the medicine on your body). 
• Towel dry your hair and untangle it with a comb.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. The person who helped you apply the medicine should also wash their hands.
• Use a lice comb to remove dead lice and nits after the treatment.
• Repeat the treatment if you see live lice on your head one week or more after the initial application. 

Doctors recommend that patients treated with permethrin should sanitize their hats, helmets, combs, brushes, hair clips, hair accessories, clothing, underwear, bedclothes, and towels after the treatment. Items should be either washed in very hot water or dry cleaned. 

Your bed partner or sexual partner should be treated for scabies at the same time to prevent the infection from passing back and forth. All members of your household should be checked for head lice and treated, if necessary.

Missed dose: If you do not use permethrin as prescribed, tell your doctor.

Storage: Store permethrin at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in its original container, tightly closed. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.

Unused medicine: Unused and expired permethrin should be disposed of in a way that children, other people, and pets cannot get to it. Do not throw permethrin in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to dispose of expired or unneeded permethrin is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal. 

NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on permethrin. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about permethrin, talk to your doctor for medical advice.

Discounted prices for permethrin (Elimite)
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